“I’ve grown up supporting the club, I remember going to block 33 at the Ricoh, I'm delighted." Coventry City's James Maddison

24 November 2014

Matt Joyce

The Sky Blues youngster also said that he wants to repay the club for their investment in him...

Coventry City starlet James Maddison has revealed he wants to “give something back” to the club to repay the faith placed in him as he signed his first professional contract.

The youngster, who turned 18 yesterday, signed the new three-and-a-half-year contract earlier today after a string of impressive performances for the Under-18’s, Under-21’s and the first team this season.

With the deal now concluded, Maddison has underlined his desire to repay the club he has supported since he was a boy.

“I’m delighted, this is what I’ve worked hard towards,” Maddison said.

“All the way through from the Academy up to this stage and all that work was to get the contract. It is the best feeling in the world.

“I’ve grown up supporting the club, I remember going to block 33 at the Ricoh as a fan watching the players and I’m nearly at that stage myself.

“I want to give the gaffer and the club something back as they’ve given me this contract.

“You want to go to the top it’s everyone’s dream – of course I want to get there but I want to get there with Coventry City. They’ve put a lot of work into me and I owe something back, hopefully I can get a run in the team soon and help the team as best as I can.”

It’s been a rollercoaster few months for Maddison, who made his debut against Cardiff in the League Cup back in August, before netting his first goal for the club against Oldham in October.

Despite the performances, Maddison, who has been with the Academy since the age of seven, never expected to be given professional terms but is pleased with the journey he has made throughout the age-groups of the club.

He added: “You always give yourself short term goals particularly when you are younger. It goes in steps, you want to go up to the Under-12’s, go up to the Academy, get a scholarship, it’s small steps towards a long-term goal. It’s been a massive journey but I really am delighted.

“From about the age of 14 it becomes realistic; it gets into your mind-set. That’s the age that you leave school and come here full-time. It is hard playing every day and combining your education work, you have develop tactically, technically and in education so it is difficult, but once you manage everything it becomes easier.

“I wasn’t expecting the news to be fair, my aim for this year was to get in and around the first-team and catch the manager’s eye so I’ve succeeded my target and hope for a run in the first-team now to repay everyone and show people what I can do.”